Policy 708

The purpose of this policy is to clarify for employees, students, parents/guardians and the community the school district's intent to pursue collections on unpaid obligations.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

The Richfield School District requires the payment of fees for participation in school activities, services such as Pay-To-Ride Transportation, rental of properties and the sale of consumables. Therefore, it is necessary and in the School District’s fiscal interest to undertake respectful efforts to collect on unpaid obligations as well as the bad or worthless checks it may receive from its customers. The School Board directs the superintendent to develop the necessary guidelines to implement the collection of unpaid obligations as provided by law.

ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION: February 9, 2004

REVIEWED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION: October 7, 2013

708.1 Administrative Guidelines

COLLECTION OF UNPAID OBLIGATIONS

I. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this administrative guideline is to assist in the implementation of a Board Policy pertaining to the collection of unpaid obligations and collections on bad checks received by the school district.

II. STUDENT FEES & FINES

The School District shall initiate collection procedures for the recovery of unpaid obligations from parents and students. The collection of an unpaid obligation shall not deny the student’s right to a public education. However, any form of an unpaid obligation may limit the student’s opportunity for participation in any/all non-curricular activities and services (sports, extra curricular activities, pay-to-ride transportation, graduation ceremony, etc.) until such time there is resolution to the unpaid obligation.

Wherever possible, the student’s participation in the fee paid activity or service will commence after the applicable fee or payment has been received.

Services shall be terminated at the time of any known unpaid obligation (grades K-12).

All schools shall assist in maintaining a history of unpaid obligations and bad credit.

A. School Communications

The schools shall annually publish a fee notification in their August Welcome Back to School, parent newsletter. The notification shall contain:

1. The description of any and all activity or service related fees describing the benefit.

2. A statement indicating when payment is due.

3. A statement that an unpaid obligation may limit a student’s opportunity to participate in non-curricular activities and services.

4. The person to contact if experiencing financial difficulty.

The school shall also provide the initial notification to the parent/guardian and/or the student in writing of any fines assessed for the loss of, or damage to school property.

III. TENANTS & PERMIT USERS

A. Past Due Notification

As a general practice, past due notifications for unpaid obligations after 30 days will be mailed a past due invoice, over 45 days will be sent a past due statement, and after 60 days will receive a personal phone call from a business office staff member.

B. Collection Agency Referral

If the past due notification process is unsuccessful, the business office may engage the use of a collection agency.

IV. NON-SUFFICIENT FUND CHECKS

In circumstances when notified by the bank that a check written to the School District is worthless due to non-sufficient funds (NSF) or an overdraft, the business office will follow actions as outlined in IIIA. A statutory $25 fee may be assessed for NSF checks.